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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
Published on: August 20, 2014
Metal ions and RNA folding: a highly charged topic with a dynamic future
1TC Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Maryland 21218-2685, USA. swoodson@jhu.edu
Abstract:
Metal ions are required to stabilize RNA tertiary structure and to begin the folding process. How different metal ions enable RNAs to fold depends on the electrostatic potential of the RNA and correlated fluctuations in the positions of the ions themselves. Theoretical models, fluorescence spectroscopy, small angle scattering and structural biology reveal that metal ions alter the RNA dynamics and folding transition states. Specifically coordinated divalent metal ions mediate conformational rearrangements within ribozyme active sites.
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